5 replies to this topic

[bruce_rob]

Evening all
What do people do for the seatbelt mounts if the rear bins have been removed
I know I can put them back in but I’m not sure I want to yet
So any other options?
Has anyone does this and could some me some images please
Thanks

[mab01uk]

Do you mean due to the removal of the inertia reel mounts welded inside the rear bins on later Mk4 onwards Minis?

 

When aftermarket inertia belts first appeared on Minis in the 1960's they were often mounted on the inner sill sharing the same mounting as the lap belt end. I think there were special brackets/spacers to allow the retractor reel to be solid mounted while allowing the lap belt end to pivot. Main drawback was the vertical belt and inertia reel slightly impeded entry into the rear seat.

Some inertia reels I remember were also mounted on the outside of the rear pockets or on the floor which slightly encroached on the rear foot well space. Of course the best and neatest solution came with the Mk4 Mini where they were factory mounted out of the way inside the rear pockets but with the loss of the two ashtrays.

This diagram shows a floor mounting bracket for the Mk1/2 Mini.


Alternative mounting on side of rear pockets with a small threaded spreader plate,

Edited by mab01uk, 13 July 2025 - 09:53 PM.

[mini-mad-mark]

If the bins have been taken out it usually indicates a move towards race style interior look and so harnesses however:

 

You could use static seat belts (i.e. not inertia reel) as they only need the mounting in the inner sill and the B pillar (and the tunnel of course) assuming you have these mounts still

 

Finally and this may be hogwash but I think I had/saw a mini with inertia reels fitted to the inner sill (I'm going to guess it was an early mini but whether that was factory or it had been converted from static to inertia and didn't have the bin mounts???) Then mounted conventionally to the B pillar - someone else may be able to confirm this or confirm I am talking nonsense.....

 

Just saw the comment above, seems I wasn't dreaming about the sill mounted inertia reels !!!

Edited by mini-mad-mark, 13 July 2025 - 09:53 PM.

[mab01uk]

If the bins have been taken out it usually indicates a move towards race style interior look and so harnesses however:

 

You could use static seat belts (i.e. not inertia reel) as they only need the mounting in the inner sill and the B pillar (and the tunnel of course) assuming you have these mounts still

 

Finally and this may be hogwash but I think I had/saw a mini with inertia reels fitted to the inner sill (I'm going to guess it was an early mini but whether that was factory or it had been converted from static to inertia and didn't have the bin mounts???) Then mounted conventionally to the B pillar - someone else may be able to confirm this or confirm I am talking nonsense.....

 

Just saw the comment above, seems I wasn't dreaming about the sill mounted inertia reels !!!

 

You are correct earlier Minis (pre-Mk4) did not have rear bin mounts for the inertia reels as most early Minis had static belts, however there were aftermarket and dealer upgrades where inertia belt reels were fitted sharing the inner sill mounts or bolted on the rear floor or side of the rear bins as seen  in my previous post.

Edited by mab01uk, 13 July 2025 - 09:58 PM.

[bruce_rob]

Thanks for the comments i will have a look and see what is there and post some pics 

[humph]

I fitted retracting reel belts in my Elf.  The fitting instructions supplied are as per the link below from Securon.  Essentially I used diagram 1 where the bottom of the vertical leg and the reel are monuted to the standard mounting hole in the inner sill.  Only slight issue is that the mpi (twin post) seats I've used touch, only just, the reel housing. I was going to mount as per the diagram MAB01UK has posted using a spreader plate under the floor, but the reel ended up too far into the car when the spreader sat between two flutes in the floor panel.

 

https://www.securon....ractor-fitting/

Edited by humph, Yesterday, 08:58 PM.